Salim Ashour: International Prize named after the great poet Alisher Navoi promotes cooperation
Salim Ashour: International Prize named after the great poet Alisher Navoi promotes cooperation
Honored journalist of Uzbekistan, popular author Salim Ashur shared his thoughts with the Dune News Agency on the occasion of the 585th anniversary of the birth of the great poet and statesman Alisher Navoi.:
– The main theme of the works of the great Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi is the idea of a perfect man. National and universal values are affirmed in his work. The entire legacy of the poet-thinker serves to elevate spirituality and enlighten humanity, and to develop the art of speech.
The head of our state, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, spoke about Alisher Navoi: "The priceless creative and scientific legacy of the great poet and thinker, outstanding statesman Alisher Navoi occupies a special place not only in the history of our people, but also in the history of world literature, in the development of national culture and literary and aesthetic thought."
In a rapidly changing modern global world, with increasing armed conflicts and acute contradictions, the importance of Alisher Navoi's unique legacy in preserving peace and progress, and building a prosperous life is becoming increasingly relevant.
In the XIV–XV centuries, during the era of Amir Temur, who united the Turkic peoples and tribes under the banner of a single power, there was a particularly great need for an artistic word that spiritually uplifts the nation. As the standard-bearer of poetry of his era, Alisher Navoi celebrated the unity of fraternal peoples in his works.
Therefore, the work of the great poet and his unique works are lovingly read and studied all over the world. Majestic monuments to the poet have been erected in many capitals and the most beautiful cities.
Today, in the New Uzbekistan, the reforms aimed at building a just, free and prosperous society, a state serving the people, and ensuring a decent human life are in many ways consonant with the noble ideas of Alisher Navoi.
In 1991, the first year of Uzbekistan's state independence, this year was declared the Year of Alisher Navoi, and a magnificent memorial complex to the poet was erected in the National Park in the center of Tashkent. The lines are carved into the inside of the dome:
Олам аҳли, билингизким, иш эмас, душманлиғ,
Ер ўлунг бир-бирингизгаким, эрур ерлиғ иш.
. (People of the world, know this: enmity is not the case, Be friends to each other – that's a worthy cause).
The humanist poet warned: "O people of the world, know that meanness and hostility are evil, and friendship and mutual support are good; only benevolence and harmony can ensure the peace of the world and the well–being of peoples."
Since Alisher Navoi's work expressed the age-old dreams of mankind, it has earned high recognition throughout the world and has become an immortal literary heritage of the Turkic peoples.
In our country, the name and memory of the great poet are honored. His works are reprinted many times, studied by schoolchildren and students. Undoubtedly, one of the largest number of scientific studies is devoted to Alisher Navoi. New works reflecting the poet's image continue to appear in national and world literature. In 2021, the scale of practical work in this area expanded even further: at the initiative of the head of Uzbekistan, the International Alisher Navoi Award was established.
This award promotes the strengthening of scientific, cultural, spiritual and educational cooperation within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States and TURKSOY, in particular, the development of literary ties between the Turkic-speaking countries. After all, the Turkic peoples are children of the same family, connected for centuries by ties of kinship, spiritual closeness and mutual respect.
The prize is awarded every two years for a special contribution to the promotion of Turkic culture in the world, the preservation of peace, ensuring security, strengthening mutual trust and expanding cooperation between the Turkic peoples.
The prize was first awarded in 2022 to the great Kyrgyz writer and public figure Chingiz Aitmatov (posthumously). In a solemn ceremony at the Ninth Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Samarkand, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented the award to President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov. Chingiz Aitmatov is rightfully considered one of the most famous writers of the Turkic world: his works have been translated into more than 176 languages and published in over 100 million copies in 128 countries.
For the second time, the Alisher Navoi International Prize was awarded at the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, "for contribution to the unity of the Turkic world" to the outstanding Turkish biochemist, Nobel Prize winner, Honorary Doctor of the National University of Uzbekistan Aziz Sanjar.
In recent years, significant work has been done to strengthen cooperation between the Turkic-speaking states and bring the Turkic peoples closer together. In particular, the publication of the 100-volume series "Pearls of Turkic Literature" became an important event in literary life. It includes works of literature from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Hungary – TURKSOY member countries. In the series, separate volumes are dedicated to 133 famous poets and writers.
In 2025, the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand adopted a resolution on the establishment of the World Day of Turkic Languages. According to the document, this day was marked for the first time on December 15, 2025. The choice of date is symbolic: according to historians, it was on December 15, 1893, that the Danish scientist Wilhelm Thomsen announced the deciphering of the Orkhon script, one of the most important sources confirming the ancient roots of the Turkic languages.
Cultural presentations and events such as exhibitions, lectures, literary evenings, and artistic performances were organized as part of the World Turkic Languages Day. Their goal is to show the cultural and social significance of the Turkic languages, the diversity of cultures of the Turkic–speaking countries and to raise awareness of the contribution of these languages to the development of mankind.
According to UNESCO, the Turkic languages are native to more than 200 million people living in an area of almost 12 million square kilometers around the world.
More than five centuries have passed since Navoi's life, and the importance of his work continues to grow. Each new generation of the Turkic peoples finds an important spiritual support in his works.
The international prize bearing the name of this great man is certainly awarded to worthy successors of his work, who serve to strengthen cooperation between Turkic-speaking states and peoples.
